Essays on physiognomy : designed to promote the knowledge and the love of mankind / written in the German language by John Caspar Lavater ; and translated into English by Thomas Holcroft ; to which are added, One hundred physiognomonical rules, a posthumous work by Mr. Lavater ; and memoirs of the life of the author, compiled principally from the life of Lavater, by G. Gessner.

  • Lavater, Johann Caspar, 1741-1801.
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Essays on physiognomy : designed to promote the knowledge and the love of mankind / written in the German language by John Caspar Lavater ; and translated into English by Thomas Holcroft ; to which are added, One hundred physiognomonical rules, a posthumous work by Mr. Lavater ; and memoirs of the life of the author, compiled principally from the life of Lavater, by G. Gessner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    whose additions he has himself corrected and sanctioned. With respect to the translation, those who know the original will also know the difficulties which almost every period presented. The German is a language abounding in compound words, and epithets linked in endless chains. Eager to excel, its writers think they never can have said enough, while any thing more can be said: their energy is frequently unbridled, and certainly, in the exalted quality of energy, Mr. Lavater will cede to few of his countrymen. He wished for the language and the pen of angels, to write on his favourite subject. Bold endeavours have been made to preserve the spirit of his reasoning, the enthusiasm of his feelings, and the sublimity of his conceptions. But, without any affected distrust of myself, I cannot venture to affirm they are preserved. THOMAS HOLCROFT.